Mar. 28, 2013

Written by

Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

A text message that discussed a “docket from hell” was sent in to flatter a woman with whom Wayne Circuit Court Judge Wade McCree was having an affair, according to a document released today by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission.

"C'mon, U'r talking about the ‘docket from hell, ' filled w/tatted up, overweight, half-ass English speaking, gap tooth skank hoes... and then you walk in, " McCree allegedly wrote in a text sent to Geniene La'Shay Mott from the bench.

Mott, who could not be reached for comment today, was a complaining witness in a child support case, involving Robert King, the father of her child that was before McCree.

McCree has not been able to retrieve the text message, but messages provided by the commission reveal a message “may have” been sent, but not while the judge was on the bench, an answer filed to the formal complaint issued by JTC said.

“The text message was sent in an effort to flatter Ms. Mott and was not intended to demean any person who had appeared in his courtroom,” the document said.

McCree’s attorney, Brian Einhorn, has said McCree should have recused himself from a hearing in King's case last August because it occurred during the time that he had a relationship with Mott. The sexual relationship began in June, according to the new document.

“Judge McCree admits that his failure to recuse himself from participating in the King case after he began his relationship with Ms. Mott constituted misconduct in the office,” the response said.

The JTC’s formal complaint filed earlier this month also accused McCree of discussing King's case with Mott and having sex with her in his judicial chambers.

“Judge McCree admits that he made the unfortunate decision to engage in a sexual relationship with Ms. Mott and also admits that on a few occasions, the relationship took place in his chambers,” the answer said.

Einhorn has acknowledged that it was wrong of McCree to have an affair adding "that's a moral issue … not a legal issue."

The answer said the relationship didn’t impact McCree’s decisions in the King case. The case later was transferred to another judge.

The JTC accused McCree of false report of a felony, improper bench conduct and demeanor and misrepresentations to the commission, allegations that Einhorn told the Free Press on March 12 that he doesn’t think will be supported.

McCree has been suspended without pay from his job and could face public censure, suspension or removal from office if he is sanctioned, officials said.

He was previously censured for sending a shirtless photo to a Wayne County Sheriff's Office employee in an unrelated incident last year.

The commission asked the Michigan Supreme Court to appoint a master - usually a retired judge who takes a role similar to that of a trial judge - to preside over a formal hearing.